Electrical plug device



Sept. 12, 1933;

L. P. CLARK, JR

ELECTRICAL PLUG DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb, 7, 1951 hlll;

ATTORNEY p .3 1933- L, P. CLARK, JR L926 228 ELECTRI CAL PLUG- DEVI G E Filed Feb. 7; 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV'ENTOR. [aNd/757252? Z -C24PK,c 7a,

A TTORNEY.

tended laterally through the passage 22. Ii' de= The plugging portions 30 of the two units are' snugly engagedin slots 40 of a cover plate or Washer 41 of insulating material snugly fitted within the wall 24 of the block to close the space 23.

It will be observed that the support of the unit in the insulating block is such that the integral structure, comprising the rigid plugging portion 30, the lead wire attaching portion 31, the extension portion 32, and the inner leg of the plugging portion above the ofiset bend 33, is firmly held in place against displacement or distortion and forms a firm support for the integral resilient contact portion 34, enabling the latter to fiex during engagement and disengagement of a plug therewith, without strain and without the objections to breakage, loosening, separation, or displacement of the parts present in devices heretoiore in use.

In `Figs. 8 to 12 I have shown a modified form of the invention in which the insulation block comprises two half sections 42, divided in a vertical plane, and Secured together by a transverse bolt 43. The inner faces of the half sections have -recesses and Channels therein, which upon joining the sections together form pocirets and passages for receiving and retaining the plug and resilient contactunits and the lead wires.

As clearly shown in Fig. 11,'a vertical recess 44 is provided at each side of the center having a shoulder 45 upon the outerwall near its upper end and opening at its inner wall, as at 46, into a lead wire receiving space 47 from. which a transverse aperture 48 extends to the exterior. The recess 44 above the shoulder 45 is widencd outwardly and near its inner wall is provided with a plug receiving recess 49 extending through the upper 'end oi the block. A transversely extending cylindrical recess 50 is provided in the -inner wall in line with the widened upper end of the recess 44. The recess 44 is open at its lower end and is provided with a rib 51 for guiding a plug therein, and in space'd relation to the lower end there is provided a rib 52. In the assembled relation of the two sections the passages formed between the recesses 49 and between the ribs 51 are oi a width to receive'the plug and resilient contact units, while the passages formed by the recess 44 are wider to provide spaces at the sides of the units for the lead wires.

The plug and resilient contact unit comprises a plug portion 53 similar to that disclosed in the first embodiment, and for-med of a strip of metal bent upon itself. The outer leg terminates at a point in line with the shoulder 45 while the -inner leg is extended downwardly to form a resilient contact portion 54, being diagonally bent at its tower end, as at 55, to provide a plug guiding surface. At' a point in line with the recess 50 the legs are provided with a tapped aperture 56 engaged by a screw 57 the head of which is positioned in the upper widened portion of the recess 44, while the shank engages the recess 50, thus positioning the unit against longitudinal dis placement and providing a binding post for attaching a lead wire.

In the modification shown in Figs. 13 and 14 the outer 'leg of the plug and resilient contact displacement and provide means to which the end of the lead wire may be fastened by solder. The

innerleg in this embodiment is provided with an ofiset bend 59 adjacent the end of the outer leg, the latter being bent outwardly below the shoulder 45, as at 60.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I have shown a further modification in which the insulating block member 61 employed is somewhat similar to that shown in the first embodiment, but of a design to accomnodate a modified form of plug and resilient contact unit, according to -my .invention. The plug portion 62 of the unit is similar to that disclosed in the other embodiments being formed by' bending a strip of metal upon itself. The outer leg is bent outwardly as at 63, and then inwardly upon itself as at 64, beneath the ex'- tremity of the inner leg, being carried beyond the inner leg for a short distance to provide a surface for attaching a lead wire by soldering, and is then bent downwardly, as at 65, and upwardly as at 66, at an inclined angle, this letter portion constituting the resilient contact part of the unit.

The plug portion 62 is engaged in a slot 67 in a cover plate or Washer 68 seated 'm the recess 69 at the upper end of the block and 'Secured by a screw 76 to the central partition portion 71. The lateral extension formed by the portions 63 and 64 is seated in a shouldered recess 71 at the upper end of the plug receiving pocket 72, provided at each side of the partition portion 71, being retained therein by the cover plate 18.' The pocket 72 has a vertical inner wall and an inclined outer wall, and is provided at its lower end with a plug receiving slot 73, through which a plug may be inserted to engage the resilient contact portion 66' of the unit. The lead wire, which as above pointed out is soldered to the portion 64, is carried through an opening 74, provided in each side wall of the pocket 72, and which opens into a space 75, at each side of the block, and from which the wire is carried to the exterior through a passage 76 provided in the outer wall oi the block, at each side.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made ther-ein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as deflned in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isi- ,1. In an electrical circuit extension plug device, a housing of insulating material having a plug blade receiving socket, and a metallic plug and resilient contact unit carried in said housing, comprising a single strip of metal .bent upon itself for a portion of its length to form a double thickness relatively stiff plug portion adapted to project from said housing and an integral single thickness relatively flexible extension forming a resilient contact portion, said contact portion being disposed in said plug blade receiving socket to form a plug engaging contact.

2. In an electrical circuit extension plug device, a housing of insulating material having a plug blade receiving socket at one end, 'and a metallic plug and resilient contact unit carried insaid housing comprising a single strip of metal bent upon itself for a portion of its length to form a double thickness relatively stili plug portion adapted to project from the end of said housing opposed to said socket end and an integral single thickness relatively flexible extension lcngitudinally aligned with said plug portion ooepoe and iorming a resilient contact portion, said contact portion being disposed in said plug receiving socket to form a plug blade engaging contact.

3. In an electrical circnit extension plug device, a housing of insulating material having a plug blade receiving socket and a plug unit positioning cavity, and a metallic plug and resilient contact unit carried in said housing comprising a single strip of metal bent upon itself for a portion of its length to form a double thickness plug portion to project from said housing, a laterally.

ofiset portion for engaging said positioning cavity of the housing and an integral single thickness extension longitudinally aligned with said plug portion and forming a resilient contact portion,

said contact portion extending into said plug blade receiving socket to form a. plug engaging contact.

l. In an electrical circuit extension. plug device, a housing of insulating material having a plug blacle receiving socket and a longitudinally extenciing plug unit positioning cavity, and a metallic plug and resilient contact` unit oarried in said housing comprising a single strip of metal bent upon itself for a portion of its length to form a double thickness plug portion to project from said housing, a longitudinally extending laterally oflset portion for longitudinally engaging in said positioning cavity of the housing, and. an integral single thickness extension forming a resilient contact portion, said contact portion extending into said plug blade receiving socket to form ;a plug engaging contact.

5. An electrical circuit extension plug clevice, comprising a housing of insulating material having a pair of spaced plug blade receiving sockets, and a pair of 'metallic plug and'resilient contact units carried in spaced relation in said housing,

l,926,228.-Lancaster P. mark, Jr,

Hereby enters this disclaimer to [Oficza Gazec .April 8, 1941.]

each comprisng e single strip of metal bent upon itself ior e, portion of its length to form a double thiclmess relatively stifl plug 'portion adapte i to project ironi said housing in corresponclingly spaced relation to the spacing of said sockets 'and an integral single thickness relatively fiexible extension forming a resilient contact portion, seid contact portions being respectively disposecl in said plug receiving sockets to form plug engaging contacts, adapted to be engaged by the plug portions of s. similar plug device.

6. In a plug receivng socket, a metallic plug and resilient contact unit, comprising a single strip oi metal bent upon'itself for a portion of its length to form a double thickness relatively stili plug portion and. an integral single 'thickness relatively flexible extension orming o, resilient cont ct portion edapted to be engagecl loy a plug inserted in said plug receiving socket.

7. In a plug reoeiving socket, a inetollic plug and resilient contact unit, comprising e single strip of metal bent upon itself for a portion of its length to ;form a. double thickness relatively stiff, plug portion and an integral single thickness relatively exible extension longitudinally algned With said plug portion and forming a resilient contact portion aclapted to be engagecl by a plug inserted in said plug receiving soclret.

8. In a plug receiving soclret, a metollic 'plug and resilient contact unit, comprising a single strip of metal bent upon itself ior a portion of its length to form a double thickness relatively still plug portion, a lead Wire attaching portion, and an integral single thickness relatively ilexible extension iorming a resilient contact portion adaptecl to ?oe engaged by a plug inserted in said plug receiving soclet.

LANCASTER P. JR.

South Norwellr Como Etncrmcan ?PLUG Dnvrcn'. Petent dated September 12, 193&

1941, by the essigneo, Electric Pug, tna

claims i, 5, and ti in ssicl. epecficetonu Disclaimer filed Memeti 313, 

